SAKTHI KRISHNAN
Chennai
Summary
Results-driven Product Leadership Executive with 17 years in payments and BFSI, focused on product strategy and market expansion. Experienced in managing product portfolios in payment systems and digital banking. Proven track record in building high-performing teams, executing go-to-market strategies, and ensuring regulatory compliance while cultivating strong stakeholder relationships.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
AVP, Product Engineering
STANDARD CHARTERED GLOBAL BUSINESS SERVICES
Chennai
01.2025 - Current
- Architected and executed product strategy for SCPay middleware across 40+ countries in APAC, EMEA, and Americas; ensured alignment with global payment standards (ISO 20022: Pacs.008, Pacs.009, Pacs.002, Pacs.004, camt.054, camt.057)
- Strategic Program Execution: Spearheading India GIFT City project launch with Standard Chartered as both participant bank and settlement bank, requiring coordination across Country, Product, Development, PMO, and upstream/downstream system teams
- Scaled product strategy for SCPay payment middleware, enhancing processing capabilities for RTGS, ACH, and fast payments globally.
- Interfaced with multi-regional teams on complex payment architecture and technical specifications; articulated vision and aligned stakeholders on product priorities, ensuring cohesive execution.
- Developed business requirement documents and user stories for major product launches, ensuring clarity and alignment across technical and business teams
- Utilized Azure DevOps, Confluence, and Gliffy for agile product management and documentation, bridging business and technical requirements effectively.
Head - NPCI & Digital Products
YALAMANCHILI SOFTWARE EXPORTS PVT LTD
Chennai
01.2024 - 12.2024
- Go-to-Market Execution: Led successful launches of multiple NPCI products (IMPS, UPI, BBPS, NACH, NETC) and digital solutions (reconciliation systems, tokenization platform, merchant acquiring products) from conception through market rollout
- Developed and executed product strategy aligned with organizational vision, expanding NPCI digital products and non-card payment solutions; acquired 5 new clients through strategic launches that entered new verticals
- Drove product strategy and market expansion for NPCI and digital banking solutions, enhancing service offerings and client engagement
- Partnered with engineering, design, marketing, and sales teams to ensure seamless product development and market fit; prioritized feature development based on market needs and user feedback, enhancing client adoption
- Team Leadership & Development: Built and mentored high-performing team of product managers, product owners, UI/UX designers, business analysts, and testers; fostered collaborative culture driving cross-functional innovation and high performance
- Tracked key metrics and analyzed user/client data to assess product performance and identify improvement opportunities; maintained market intelligence on industry verticals and competitors to guide strategic decisions
Director of Client Account Management, South India & Sri Lanka
YALAMANCHILI SOFTWARE EXPORTS PVT LTD
Chennai
05.2022 - 12.2023
- Managed client account management function for South India and Sri Lanka, overseeing portfolio of top financial institutions; developed and implemented customer service strategies to enhance client satisfaction and retention through improved engagement; negotiated contracts on SLAs and commercial terms.
- Led client account management transformation across South India and Sri Lanka with accountability for team of 60+
- Team Leadership at Scale: Led cross-functional team of 60+ members across onsite and offsite locations; designed organizational structure, performance management processes, and professional development programs to drive accountability and engagement
- Identified and presented tailored solutions aligned to customer needs; led cross-selling initiatives on payment gateway platform for cards, UPI, net banking, wallets, DCC, and BNPL solutions, resulting in expanded service offerings with banks and merchants.
- Led team in implementation of major projects including debit card management system, digitalization of credit card products, and mobile applications for credit and prepaid card systems; contributed to functional architecture design for credit card integration with UPI and payment gateway integrations.
- Partnered with product team on API-driven standing instructions and eMandate engine initiatives supporting UPI Autopay, NACH eMandates, Cards on File, and Aadhaar-based mandate solutions, enhancing market reach for innovative payment capabilities.
- Industry & Competitive Engagement: Monitored industry trends and identified market opportunities; conducted workshops and trainings ensuring team expertise in product knowledge, sales strategies, and client engagement best practices
Product Owner / Product Operations / Operations Product Senior Lead
NATIONAL PAYMENTS CORPORATION OF INDIA (NPCI)
Chennai
06.2012 - 08.2021
- Developed product strategy and operational framework for mission-critical national payment systems, enhancing service reliability and performance.
- Digital Product Innovation & Go-to-Market: Led NACH product team in conception, development, and market launch of E-Mandate (eNACH) across multiple channels-eSign, Internet banking, Debit card, and Aadhaar-based variants; reduced mandate registration TAT from T+15 days to instant registration through process innovation and stakeholder coordination
- Product Portfolio Management: Managed strategic product portfolio for NACH (National Automated Clearing House) and CTS (Cheque Truncation System); played key role in implementing direct benefit transfer through NACH system, dispute management framework, and positive pay system for CTS
- Coordinated stakeholders across banks, regulators, vendors, and industry bodies to align product initiatives, ensuring compliance and seamless execution.
- Handled end-to-end operations including session management, reconciliation, service delivery, customer onboarding, and audits, while building standardized operational frameworks.
- Digital Transformation: Instrumental in digitalization of customer query management for BHIM, UPI, and NACH products through API integration; enhanced customer experience and operational efficiency across payment systems serving millions of users
- Policy & Governance Leadership: Expertise in writing operational policies, circulars, and SOPs; managed steering committee meetings, prepared executive presentations, tracked action items, and ensured implementation of strategic initiatives across stakeholder organizations
- Managed audits and regulatory relationships while overseeing vendor partnerships; led RFP processes for NACH product vendor evaluation, ensuring adherence to RBI and payments standards.
Assistant Manager, Branch Operations
THE LAKSHMI VILAS BANK LTD
Mumbai
08.2008 - 05.2012
- Managed reconciliation and settlements for CTS and ECS payment systems; conducted GL reconciliations while overseeing branch operations, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
- Established operational frameworks and managed payment processing for branch operations, enhancing efficiency in technology initiatives
- Handled inward and outward cheque processing; established CTS operational processes for bank and managed ECS clearing, ensuring seamless transaction processing.
- Implemented middleware solutions for payment system conversions and translated operational requirements into technical specifications, facilitating efficient system integration.
Education
Master of Business Administration - Marketing & Systems
Jansons School of Business
Coimbatore01.2008
Bachelor of Engineering - Electronics and Communication
KLN College of Engineering
Madurai01.2006
Skills
- Product Roadmap Development
- Go-to-Market Strategy
- Product Vision & Positioning
- Product Lifecycle Management
- Feature Prioritization
- Strategic Planning
- Market Analysis
- Client Value Propositions
- P&L Oversight
- Risk Assessment & Compliance
- Implementation Management
- Multi-phase Program Delivery
- Requirements Gathering
- UAT & Go-Live Management
- Payment Gateways
- Digital Banking Solutions
- Stakeholder Alignment
- Performance Management
- Vendor Management
- Contract negotiation
- Performance analytics
- Multi-functional Leadership
- Cross-regional Team Coordination
- Team building
- Performance analytics
Certification
Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), 2022
Languages
- English, Fluent
- Tamil, Fluent
- Hindi, Novice
Personal Information
- Citizenship: Indian
- Date of Birth: 08/27/84
Timeline
AVP, Product Engineering
STANDARD CHARTERED GLOBAL BUSINESS SERVICES
01.2025 - Current
Head - NPCI & Digital Products
YALAMANCHILI SOFTWARE EXPORTS PVT LTD
01.2024 - 12.2024
Director of Client Account Management, South India & Sri Lanka
YALAMANCHILI SOFTWARE EXPORTS PVT LTD
05.2022 - 12.2023
Product Owner / Product Operations / Operations Product Senior Lead
NATIONAL PAYMENTS CORPORATION OF INDIA (NPCI)
06.2012 - 08.2021
Assistant Manager, Branch Operations
THE LAKSHMI VILAS BANK LTD
08.2008 - 05.2012
Master of Business Administration - Marketing & Systems
Jansons School of Business
Bachelor of Engineering - Electronics and Communication
KLN College of Engineering